WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?

By R.W.Bro. M.A.R. Howard D.G.M. GLBC

In defining itself as a system of morality veiled in
allegory Freemasonry takes itself seriously. There are no side issues
involved as to benevolent aims or social objects. These, or other desirable
methods of expression, are left to grow out of the more comprehensive
definition quoted.

To the profane who has never been within the walls of a
lodge room Freemasonry is the aristocrat among secret societies. To him the
appeal may be curiosity, admiration for its benevolent practices, or a
desire for social fellowship. I do not know of a man joining the Masonic
order because he understood it to be a system of morality, or because there
was an intellectual appeal in its philosophy and symbology. It seems a pity
this appeal cannot be made more manifest to the outside world, but no one
can receive knowledge for which he is not prepared. In the practical working
out of our Freemasonry the keynote cannot always be pitched on the high
levels of philosophical exposition, but too often the degrees are conferred
without the emphasis on instruction, hence the odious term "degree mill" is
deservedly applicable. Freemasons are made, not elected. Freemasonry is not
a benevolent society. That is, the primary aim is not benevolence, but being
a system of morality the virtue of charity is one of its prominent teachings
and a front rank place must be accorded benevolent practice and charitable
conduct. Individual Freemasons, or Lodges, or even Grand Lodges, should not
delude themselves with the idea that they are functioning to the fullest
degree by the practice of this one virtue.

Neither is Freemasonry a social order. It is not a club
for the enjoyment of social intercourse alone. Man is gregarious in his
instincts, and these instincts ought to be given expression. But here again
the social side of Freemasonry ought to be subordinated to the main theme.
Just as in the harmony of music there are many parts, the undue emphasis of
one of these will cause discord.

Many Freemasons profess to find in Freemasonry a
religion. Morality is a very good soil out of which spirituality, may
grow. But morality and spirituality are different elements of
character. FREEMASONRY HAS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM OF MAN'S ATTITUDE TO
DEITY. The recognition of the Fatherhood of God is only partial in its
answer. It has no solution for the problem of pain, sorrow, and evil in the
world. Neither has it a solution for the problem of the hereafter. It does
not seek to make bad men good unless of course they are Freemasons. In short
it does not function as a religious experience. It is all very well for the
young man in whom abounding physical well-being may obscure spiritual
promptings for a time, to say out of his lack of life's experience that
Freemasonry is a good enough religion for him. But as he grows older
and tastes of some of the bitter experiences that life holds in its lap for
all of us, sooner or later he will realize that Freemasonry is not a
complete answer to the riddle of existence. What is Freemasonry? And again
we return to his own answer-A system of morality veiled in allegory.
But this simple statement is provocative of further questioning. It is
simply a restatement of the simple moral truths we all learned from our
parents, from our Sunday School teachers or from the Minister in the pulpit.
Or is there in the profundities of its symbology an intellectual appeal that
must be sought through serious study. Many Masonic students have found in it
such an appeal. What is Freemasonry? - A system of sublime truths, including
those of the natural universe, as well as of moral and intellectual science
and philosophy, raised on the accepted fact of one Almighty, infinite, and
perfect Deity, called by Freemasons T.G.A. of the U.,-the perfection and
completeness of the order of the universe, its correspondence with itself
throughout; that is, in all its parts and degrees-the coordination of these
last by correspondence, from the first to last, their correspondence with
the degrees found in man, in the same order-the immortality of the human
spirit, a righteous system of divine government, the enjoining of the
practice of all moral and social virtues and duties, by means of lessons
embodied in symbolic representations of deep significance together with apt
and wisely ordered discourse, all contained in certain ancient and simple
but sublime ceremonies, coordinated in degrees according to the order of the
universe which is the divine order. And further, that the filling up of this
general scheme is by lessons taught in words so much as by representations
of correspondences actually existing in the constitution of natural and
spiritual things, in their several degrees, and cognizable by man; that
these lessons, in order to their perpetuation , are embodied in the forms of
the lodge and what may be found therein, and especially in what is termed
The Work, the principal truths and illustrations being set forth by means of
geometry, upon which science, as we are expressly taught, Freemasonry is
founded.

And yet we have not found the answer to the question
WHAT IS FREEMASONRY? Freemasonry is a word used to describe the beliefs and
practices of Freemasons and the way in which local units, called lodges, are
governed and linked together. A craft rather than an order, it is secret
only in having rituals and other matters not to be divulged to non-members,
a society with secrets but not a secret society. Its places of meeting are
prominently identified, and its governing bodies publish annual proceedings.
The membership is a matter of record and perhaps sometimes public knowledge.
In Communist and completely totalitarian countries Freemasonry is
proscribed. The Roman Catholic Church forbids its members to be Freemasons,
although many of that faith were active Freemasons in the 18th and early 19th centuries. In Great Britain, the Commonwealth
countries, Scandinavia, the United States and other nations with similar
institutions, heads of government, dignitaries and distinguished citizens
are Freemasons. Men from all walks of life meet together in their adherence
to a moral code whose principles are largely conveyed through symbols and
allegories connected with the art of building, emphasizing benevolence. A
Freemason, it was said in 1734/1735 "is to be a man of Benevolence and
Charity, not sitting down contented while his Fellow Creatures, but much
more his Brethren, are in Want, when it is in his power, without prejudicing
himself or family to relives them."

Is there one amongst us who at some time or other has
not asked himself: What is this Freemasonry? What is it all about? Who of us
has not wondered how it is, that simple as its teachings appear, it has so
gripped the imagination of men and has retained its appeal and
influence throughout the centuries and is still the greatest moral force,
with the exception of Religious Institutions, the world has known. When we
can answer those questions we will have a clearer vision of our Order and
the purpose of Freemasonry. Far be it from me to suggest that I can hope to
give a complete and satisfactory answer, but rather that I may express some
thoughts on the subject which will assist one to reach one's own
conclusions, also that I may be of some assistance to our younger Brethren
in interpreting the beautiful symbolism of our Order-the key to our treasure
chest which holds for us the wisdom of the ages. There are many definitions
of Freemasonry, for instance our Ritual defines it as a peculiar system of
morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Another
definition is "that it is a science which is engaged in the search after
Divine Truth." Still another writer interprets Freemasonry as Friendship,
Love and Integrity. Friendship, which rises superior to fictitious
destruction of Society, the prejudices of Religion, and the pecuniary
conditions of Life. LOVE, which knows no limit, nor inequality, nor
decay.

Integrity, which binds man to the Eternal Law of Duty.

Perhaps the most complete and best definition is that
given in the German Handbuch which states "Freemasonry is an activity of
closely united men, who, employing symbolical forms borrowed principally
from the Masons' trade and from Architecture, work for the welfare of
mankind, striving morally to ennoble themselves and others and thereby to
bring about a universal league of mankind."

However inadequate these descriptions may be, they all
indicate that Freemasonry has a very noble objective and a purpose, and I
may add that without such a purpose it would long since have passed into
oblivion and could not have survived the ravages of time. Why is Freemasonry
here in this world of strife? Wherefore has it been developed, amid war and
incessant conflict, along lines of peace and love, and so marvelously molded
and developed, that in every land it is now known and by every race made
welcome? Has all this been done that it may live for itself alone? No there
on its Trestleboard is the plan of the Great Architect and its mission is to
work out that plan. Out of the rough hard quarries of a quarrelling humanity
it has to build a Temple of Brotherhood and Peace. This Temple is the great
Landmark-the highest and grandest ideal of Freemasonry.

To build, strengthen and beautify it we must exercise
all the powers and gifts with which we are endowed. What nobler work can we
be engaged in? Yet how far we are, as a rule, from understanding it. Yet it
is ignorance more than unwillingness that hinders the work. That is a noble
conception of the purpose to which Freemasonry is dedicated and if we
examine our Ritual and Symbolical teachings we will find this great idea
continually brought before us, Free and Accepted our symbolic Masonry, as we
know it, emphasizes that we are builders in the Spiritual sense hence the
fact that the working tools of the old operative Freemasonry occupy a
prominent place in our lodges and are used for the purpose of instructing us
in great spiritual and ethical principles of which they are symbolic. Those
tools with which operative craftsmen earned their living were also, because
of the great moral and spiritual teachings associated with them, used by him
to think out his faith by which to live. The connection between Operative
and Speculative Masonry may be briefly considered at this juncture as it may
be helpful in the consideration of our subject. For many centuries Lodges of
Operative Freemasons existed and reached their greatest strength during the
cathedral building era in the Middle Ages, when magnificent cathedrals were
erected throughout the Old World. It was also during that period, known as
the Dark Middle Ages, there set in a decline in moral and spiritual
standards, and so it happened that the most exquisite gems of architecture
were surrounded by hovels in which lived a depraved type of humanity.
The viciousness of human nature formed an appalling contrast to the creative
genius of craftsmanship; was it this that caused the progenitors of our
Order to believe that the principles of disciplined and devoted
craftsmanship productive of such beauty in architecture could be applied to
human affairs and enable men to build a superstructure, perfect in all its
parts and honorable to the builder? And so with the gradual decline in the
building era and the consequent decline in Lodges of Operative Masons,
modern Freemasonry gradually grew in strength and inherited the symbolism
and teachings to be used to stimulate in turn the dignity and high purpose
of life. And so with our ancient Brethren, our Freemasonry has much in
common-those same symbols and tokens signify the great spiritual truths
underlying its teachings, and although Freemasonry is no longer engaged in
erecting temples ln stone it carries on the teaching that we are engaged in
building a spiritual temple which age cannot affect, nor death destroy.

Erected on the everlasting foundation of the Fatherhood
of God and the Brotherhood of Man, Freemasonry is not a religion, either
does it refuse membership to men on account of religion they practice.
Christian, Jew, Mohammedan, or Buddhist, it matters not, worshipping God as
the Supreme Being they may enter its ranks. It respects every religious
Faith and Belief and honors men as men irrespective of their social status.
It has no creed of bigotry and no spirit of intolerance. It makes for
morality and humanity and brotherly love in the widest and noblest meaning.
To ensure happiness man must live with God and man. The very first
requirement of a Freemason is an expression of his faith in God, and when
progressing through the various stages is impressed with the lessons of
charity and mutual help, which better fit him to take place in the world as
a man and a citizen.

The
ultimate truth he learnt is, that the real soul of Freemasonry is to be
discovered in its fellowship and service for God and his fellowmen. Of this
great truth we are constantly reminded and it is conveyed to us in many
aspects of our symbolism. Therefore, What is Freemasonry itself if not a
world-builder, a social architecture on the grand style? With its
fellowships established in every nation under heaven, its activities never
ceasing night or day, its messages uttered in nearly all the languages of
the race but always the same message, it is one of the mightiest, one of the
most benign, one of the most constructive of all forces in the world. When
its work is finished, which will not be until the end is ended, it will have
proved itself a builder of an unseen cathedral more noble, more enduring
than any ever made of stone.